DARBY - At a recent Montana conference on active
transportation, the moderator asked everyone to recall
their earliest, fondest memory of being physically
active.
Not surprisingly, the word “bicycle” came up often.
The sense of pleasure and freedom that comes with
bicycling needn’t be a distant memory, nor should it
be limited to the fully-abled, though, according to the
philosophy of Lightfoot Cycles, manufacturing a line of
unique cycles in a Darby factory.
“We believe the reason that many people don’t
cycle after age 30 is that they find it to be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and unsafe; our goal is to stand
the paradigm on its head, and to find ways to help
people reconnect with the pleasure of cycling,” said
Rod Miner, Lightfoot’s president, co-founder and lead
designer.
“We’re building the most highly useful vehicles we
can,” he added.
Not many bicycles are manufactured in the U.S.,
but at the Lightfoot plant in Darby, tubing is bent and

welded every day to create specialty cycles for a growing market that includes commuters, industrial users,
and cyclists with special needs.
Lightfoot Cycles builds high-quality recumbent and
utility cycles, studiously avoiding the use of the word
“bicycles,” because many of their models have more
than two wheels. Recumbent cycles place the rider in a
reclined, sitting position, providing a more comfortable
ride and putting much less stress on the backs, wrists
and elbows of riders.
Their line includes two-wheeled bikes for commuting, mountain biking, and sport use, and trikes and
quads that are adaptable for many uses and users.
Their recreational bikes can be quite speedy, as the
recumbent position is aerodynamically efficient and
stable. Their utility machines, on the other hand – trikes
and quads – are built to encourage cyclists to use them
instead of a car, for running errands, hauling groceries,
even ferrying industrial loads or other passengers.
Their products were once more numerous in
Australia than in the U.S., Miner laughs, but now they’re
seen on Bitterroot backroads, Missoula streets, and
throughout the country. They even built a fleet of cargo

Page 6 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

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trikes for an immense eastern Washington manufacturing plant, enabling machinists to move parts and tools
easily from place to place.
That said, they continue to ship bikes to worldwide
customers.
The company’s name represents not only “fleetfooted and quick,” Miner notes, but also “treading
lightly,” as they strive for “green” manufacturing processes.
Lightfoot has its roots in the production of adaptive vehicles, specifically hand-cranked cycles to aid
those who’d lost the use of their legs. The reputation
they developed for innovative designs and production capability continues to serve them, as Miner is
frequently asked to contribute his expertise for special
projects, including pedicab designs for domestic and
international use.
Their focus, however, is on providing cycles that
people will get on and use as a dependable form of
personal transportation. Though he delights in seeing
Lightfoot cycles in use on bikeways, both for recreation
and for long-distance touring, Miner views those as
secondary uses, with practical, day-to-day use as their
primary aim.
Miner touts the health benefits of Lightfoot
machines, citing research that finds “incidental exercise,” that which is built into one’s daily routine, to be
one of the best ways to improve overall health.
“We firmly agree,” he said. “When cycling is available as an effective option, it just happens, and people
delight in jumping on a bike for errands.” Their strategy is to assess the reasons why people don’t cycle,
and then to take away those barriers.
The company’s team includes Miner’s spouse and
Lightfoot co-founder Marty Stomberg, and Production
Manager David Norton, a United Bicycle Institute
graduate who brought with him experience producing
high-end bicycle frames at Team-USA, as well as a crew
of experienced technicians.
At its seasonal peak, Lightfoot has employed
the equivalent of 8-10 full-time workers, producing
about 200 cycles in the course of a year. Projects now
in development could increase that number, but their
current business plan calls for a focus on their core
products to produce a 50% increase in those numbers,
and Miner said recently that they’re on track to meet
that goal.
Lightfoot’s designs promise safety, comfort, and
reliability, and most have some built-in cargo-hauling
capacity. They’re also designed for rugged use, in all
weather conditions.

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 7

Eventually, though, Miner comes
back to the simple joy of cycling.
“Cycling is the great equalizer
between humans and cheetahs,” he
mused. “You’re operating under your
own power, but going four times as fast,
swooping along -- people love that!”
It’s the stuff of dreams and daydreams, he said, and the Lightfoot factory in Darby is working to keep those
dreams a part of everyday life.
To learn more about the company
and its products, you can visit their
facility in Darby from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday, or weekends
by arrangement. They’ll gladly put you
on one of their bicycles or trikes for a
test drive or a joyride. Or you may visit
them online at www.lightfootcycles.
com.
Russ Lawrence is a freelance writer
for the Ravalli Republic.
Russ Lawrence

Female road cyclists will briefly dominate 100 kilometers of Bitterroot byways on Sunday, June 22, when
Femme/Velo rolls into its second year.
The unique, women-only event has its roots in a promotion by the Rapha brand of road-biking apparel and
accessories, encouraging women to ride 100 kilometers – what’s known as a “metric century” – in coordination with a stage of the Tour de France.
That idea caught the imagination of Nicole
Adamson, a Hamilton cyclist, who was looking for a
way to challenge herself. When she couldn’t find any
female riding partners, she recognized an opportunity,
and organized a small group for an event that she
dubbed Femme/Velo.
“Initially I just wanted to ride it by myself, and then

I thought, ‘Why not invite other women to ride with
me?’ I thought it would be a good way to get to know
some of the other women cyclists in the area.”
She and a group of friends quickly put the event
together last summer, with the help of Red Barn
Bicycles in Hamilton.
The small group of riders, most of them unknown to
Adamson, departed Red Barn Bikes in the morning as
strangers.
“I think we each had in our heads that it was going
to be a race, but about by mile five we decided we
were going to ride the whole thing together,” she said.
“It was all about women connecting with one
another. It was a great event.”

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 9

This year, she’s hoping to greatly expand the number of riders for Femme/Velo Deux, which remains the
only all-female organized ride in Montana.
What started out as a fun way to meet other
women cyclists soon became a mission on Adamson’s
part to promote women’s cycling in general, and to
encourage women to use cycling as a way to stay fit
and get outdoors.
“I used to love riding as a kid,” she explained. “It
was a way of expanding my range, my whole world
just expanded with a 10-speed bike.” After setting that
aside for years, she recently decided to get back on
the bike. Now, she’s recapturing some of that youthful
joy, and sharing it with others – but she still appreciates
a solo ride, too. “I love getting out on my bike and disappearing; it’s a great escape.”
She believes that there’s a huge potential for women’s cycling, but women are still underrepresented in
terms of events, gear, support, and leadership. “That is
starting to change, and I hope that events like Femme/
Velo will be a part of that change, to help grow the
sport.”
The event will begin and end at the Bitter Root
Brewery, and participants will be feted at ride’s end
with food and beverages. As an incentive for early
registration, the first 25 riders to sign up will receive a
free, vintage-style, pink wool jersey commemorating
the event. All other entrants can purchase the jersey at
additional cost when they register.
Non-riders can join the post-ride party for $10.
Adamson said the Brewery was enthusiastic about supporting the ride from the start.
Riders will be supported along the route by three
aid stations – staffed entirely by men, according to
Adamson’s plan, giving everyone a chance to support
the ride’s goals.
The event website is currently accepting registrations, at www.femmevelous.com. At this time, the route
hasn’t been finalized, but last year her criteria were
“challenging” and “scenic.” Registration is $75.
Check the website, too, for information on group
training rides, that Adamson is hoping to organize.
Event co-founder Jim Wood recalled that last
year’s ride was thrown together with little time and less
budget, but for Femme/Velo Deux they’re ahead on
both accounts.
“This year we’re starting earlier so we can attract
riders from throughout the state, and the region,”
Wood said. “We’re also hoping to find dedicated
sponsors of the event who recognize a good opportunity when they see one,” he hinted.

In a novel approach, they’ve turned to Indie-Go-Go,
a crowd-funding website, for support, and have garnered $300 so far. “It’s encouraging, and shows that
women’s cycling is a big deal and will continue to be a
big deal as more women get involved,” Adamson said.
That campaign is ongoing, and anyone wishing to support it may do so at www.indiegogo.com.
Adamson sees Femme/Velo as something more
than just a single event in the Bitterroot, and is working to convert it into an organized voice for women’s
cycling.
A freelance writer, she plans to make the website
into a resource not only for women cyclists in the
Bitterroot Valley, but nationally by providing women
with cycling news, product reviews, and hosting other
events throughout the year. She was also recently
named a contributing writer for the Rapha brand, and
will write about women’s cycling on their behalf.
While her primary goal is to promote women’s
cycling, she’s also out to promote the Bitterroot Valley
as a cycling destination.
Roch Turner helped organize last year’s ride, and
he thinks that road cycling in the Bitterroot is an easy
sell. “Our riders from Missoula last year were blown
away by how easy it was to access great routes without
heavy traffic concerns, and how hospitable people
were in Hamilton,” he said.
Femme/Velo riders from outside the area will
quickly see that from Hamilton you can head out in
any direction to find beautiful scenic rides, on relatively
low-traffic roads, according to Adamson.
Wherever they choose to ride, though, she hopes
that they’ll turn to Femme/Velo for support.
“Our goal is to get more women out on the road
to ride, train, and stay connected with other women
cyclists by creating opportunities to ride.”
For more information, visit the website, www.
femmevelous.com, email Adamson at
ngmskurf@msn.com, or call her at (406) 381-7962.

I’ve always equated the bicycle with freedom. As a
child, my doting parents did an efficient and precise
job of clearly demarcating where in the neighborhood
I could and couldn’t travel, a system that seemed arbitrary and senseless to my curious self.
My first ten-speed, purchased reluctantly by my
parents, obliterated those neatly outlined boundaries,
expanding my physical landscape, and more importantly, the landscape of my imagination.
I’m not alone in seeing the bicycle as more than a
machine for transportation or sport. During the latter
part of the 19th century, when cycling was hitting its
stride in terms of popularity, women were at that same
time coming into their own by challenging the roles
they’d been assigned and defining new roles for themselves.
The bicycle was the physical manifestation of the
freedom women coveted, and it was the means to
obtaining that freedom. Susan B. Anthony said that
bicycling “had done more to emancipate women than
anything else in the world.”
But it is this quote, from an 1896 article, in Munsey’s
Magazine that best summarizes the significance of the
bicycle for women, a significance that still resonates
today: “To men, the bicycle in the beginning was
merely a new toy, another machine added to the

Courtesy of Jenn Turner, Femme/Velo 2013

long list of devices they knew in their work and play.
To women, it was a steed upon which they rode into a
new world.”
Ride into a new world they did. The popularity of
cycling among women during the late 19th and early
20th century grew at an extraordinary rate: Bicycling
afforded women the means to simply get up and go.
What an intoxicating feeling it was for those women to
tear off their corsets, pin up their skirts, and for some
brave women to don their husband’s trousers, all while
challenging the social norms of the day, and more
importantly, discovering in themselves their potential.
Annie Londonberry, was a woman greatly affected
by the bicycle. If not for the bicycle, she might never
have found her inner passion. Annie was a 22-year-old
mother of three who had ridden a bicycle only a few
times before announcing to the American public that
she would circumvent the world on her bike. In doing
so, she became an international symbol of the “new
woman,” eschewing the traditional role assigned to
her, and proving that women could be independent,
athletic and strong.
There is a long list of female cyclists who have furthered the sport, women who have challenged the
roles assigned to them.

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 11

Women’s cycling, and women’s athletics in general,
still comes in second to their male counterparts in
terms of the number of organized events, media coverage, salary, and recognition for achievement.
The Danish cyclist Marianne Vos, who has been
compared to the great Eddy Merckx for the way she
rides, her intensity, and her domination of bike racing, is one of those women who typify all that is great
about the sport. She is also a champion for furthering
women’s cycling.
Vos and other professional female cyclists are
working to change the current landscape of women’s
cycling. In March of this year, they reached an agreement with the governing body of the Tour de France
that will allow professional women cyclists, for the first
time in history, to ride part of this year’s Tour.
Kathryn Bertine, a professional cyclist who has
recently won accolades and awards for her documentary, Half the Road, about the challenges facing
professional female cyclists, was one of the women
instrumental in the ruling. Kathryn calls this ruling, “an
important intermediate step towards a Tour de France
for women.”
Closer to home, our community reveals a vibrant
group of female amateur and professional cyclists and

triathletes, as well as student athletes who are just
now seeing the possibilities for their future. Our young
female athletes are dominating the local sports scene
with their feats in cross country, track, tennis, and basketball.
As an amateur cyclist, I’m encouraged by the both
the growth of the sport and where it is headed. The
ruling to allow women to showcase their talents at the
Tour this year is an important step, and it will hopefully
encourage more young women to look at cycling as a
professional sport and not just something their crazed
moms do on the weekends - to paraphrase my daughters, both of whom are runners for their school’s cross
country teams.
I see around me a community of women athletes
challenging themselves to be stronger and healthier,
pushing the boundaries of their sport, and questioning
what it means to be a woman. I look at our community,
and see strong, sexy, beautiful women who will not be
bound by any tautology that claims we must be one
thing or another, but who are defining for ourselves
what it means to be a woman.
Nicole Adamson is a Bitterroot Valley cycling enthusiast and freelance writer.

Some cyclists are internally motivated to get on the
bike and start putting miles behind them, but others
need a little external motivation. That’s where organized cycling events can help, providing a deadline
for preparation, and sometimes even aiding cyclists in
finding riding companions to keep the peer pressure
applied.

Ravalli Republic

Fortunately, the riding calendar in the Bitterroot
offers a variety of events for riders of all interests, nicely
spaced throughout the summer.
June 7 – 8: The first Bitterroot-based cycling
event of the season is the van-supported “Pedal
to Paradise,” organized by Darby’s Lightfoot Cycles.

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 13

on their website when that capacity is approached.
Call Miner at (406) 821-4750 for more information or
to sign on; browse to www.lightfootcycles.com/pedalto-paradise for full information.
June 22: The Femme/Velo Deux (see related story)
ride for women takes off from the Bitter Root Brewery,
loops through the valley on paved roads for 100 km.
(approx. 62.5 miles), and returns to the brewery for a
post-ride party.
Organizer Nicole Adamson is in the process of finalizing the route, but scenic, paved roads with low traffic
counts are among the criteria that won it rave reviews
from last year’s participants.
The event started small last year, with only six riders, and Adamson’s goal for this year remains modest,
though to build interest the first 25 registrants will get a
free jersey. Sign-up opened April 15, at the event website, www.femmevelous.com. The $75 registration also
includes pre-ride refreshments and a post-ride bash
with beer and food. Non-riders may also attend the
party for $10.
Riders will find two aid stations along their route,
serving fruit, water, and encouragement.
Register online, or contact organizer Adamson via
phone at (406) 381-7962, or email ngmskurf@msn.com.

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Participants will ride from Darby, up the West Fork, and
over Nez Perce Pass to the Paradise guard station and
campground, on Selway River, a total of 65 miles.
“This is a dirt road ride into the isolated heart of
the biggest wilderness area in the 48 states,” writes
Lightfoot owner Rod Miner in his blog. “Bikes can be
mountain bikes or touring bikes, upright or recumbent,
as long as they are outfitted with sturdy traction tires.”
Riders have the option of starting at the Lightfoot
Cycles facility in Darby or, by starting at the Conner
camping area, to shave off eight miles. Less committed
riders may start at Fales Flat, saving a further 21 miles.
From Fales Flat campground, the remaining distance is 20 percent paved and 80 percent dirt or gravel
road. Miner compares the effort of riding the full 65
miles to riding a century on pavement.
The Lightfoot Cycles van will “sag” the riders, carrying their camping gear and potluck contributions for
dinner and breakfast. Participants should carry their
own rain gear, snacks, water, and lunch, and the van will
carry the rest.
This is an informal ride, not an organized “event,”
and while there’s no formal registration, Lightfoot’s Rod
Miner notes that the campground can only accommodate 70 persons, and asks that interested riders contact
Lightfoot to signal their intent. Miner will post a notice

• Pasta
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• Beer & Wine

ECLECTIC CAFE

363-4433

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163 south 2nd street, hamilton
Lunch M-F 11-2 • Dinner W-Sat 5-9

Page 14 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

July 12: The Ride De Root is a full, 100-mile century ride (with shorter options), benefitting the Darby
Booster Club, starting and ending in Darby.
The $50 entry fee nets you a commemorative t-shirt,
four aid stations with food and water, and a beer-andbarbecue post-ride party.
The route departs The Right To Bare Arms gym in
Darby and heads toward Stevensville on the east side
of the valley, then crosses to the west side, returning
to Darby via Victor’s back roads, Hamilton’s Westside
highway, and U.S. 93. The route climbs (and descends)
a total of 2,785 feet.
Those who don’t want to bite off a full century have
both a 60-mile option that breaks off at Corvallis, and a
42-miler that loops to Hamilton and back. Both shorter
options offer two refreshment stops.
All riders will have access to a sag van if needed.
Visit www.ridederoot.com for more information, or
to register.

Child Road to the turnaround, for a maximum of 20
miles.
The $35 entry fee gets you a swag bag and admission to the post-ride party at Red Barn Bikes, with live
music, barbecue, and refreshments. Part of the entertainment includes the Kids Fun Ride, a short, dirt-road
dash – or a simple parade, for the less-competitive,
with kids encouraged to decorate their bikes.
The Bitter Root Land Trust encourages riders to
solicit sponsors, and riders who collect more contributions for the Land Trust are eligible for additional premiums.
This year, the Land Trust plans to invite the whole
community to the post-ride party, for a small admission
price, to celebrate our valley’s beauty, in one of its most
scenic spots.
For more information, call the Bitter Root Land Trust
at (406) 375-0956, or visit the event website at www.tourofthebitterroot.org.

July 20: The Tour of the Bitterroot, a benefit for
the Bitter Root Land Trust, offers options for riders of all
ages and abilities.
The Skalkaho Mountain Tour departs from Red Barn
Bikes, on Sleeping Child Road, ascends the Skalkaho
Highway before turning off on the gravel Skalkaho/
Rye road, crossing the divide back over to the Sleeping
Child drainage, and rejoining the pavement to return
to Red Barn Bikes, for a total of 50 miles, half of it
paved and half gravel.
The Family Ride leaves Red Barn Bikes and heads
ten miles – or as far as you like – up paved Sleeping

July 26: The Lake Como Triathlon is a rugged
event that includes a chilly, 1,500-yard open-water swim
in Lake Como, a 12.6-mile mountain bike course on
Forest Service roads and single-track trails, and a 7.7
mile trail run around the lake. Competitors may enter
solo, or as part of a team.
The $65 entry fee for individuals and $150 for teams
benefits a number of organizations, including the Lost
Trail Ski Patrol, Lake Como Trails Club, Ravalli County
Search & Rescue, and Trapper Creek Job Corps
Student Government.
Included for your entry fee is a catered lunch and

David Erickson

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 15

swag bag. Visit www.lakecomotri.com for more information, or to register.
August 9: the Bitterroot Classic Triathlon is a
“Sprint Distance” triathlon, centered on the Bitterroot
Aquatic Center in Hamilton. Participants swim 750
yards, bike 20 kilometers, and finish off with a fivekilometer run.
The event, a benefit for Emma’s House Children’s
Advocacy Center, will be held two weeks earlier this
year than last. Registration opens April 21, online at
www.bitterrootclassictriathlon.com. Participants may
register as an individual or as a team, with a “junior”
division open for the youngest participants.
Participants receive a swag bag, and a post-race
party with music, awards, and prizes, including drawings for merchandise.
September 5-7: The first Lost Trail Bike Fest &
Shuttle Extravaganza was deemed a great success
by everyone who participated, so organizers are giving it another shot in 2014. A unique event, it offers a
day of mountain biking on four trails that start out from
Lost Trail Pass ski area, then fan out, before ending up
together once again at Highway 93, where a shuttle
awaits to haul bike and rider back to the ski area, to do

it over again.
The trails offer 18 to 21 miles of serious intermediate
to advanced riding, and almost 4,000 feet of vertical
descent, with enough demanding climbs mixed in to
ensure that no calorie goes unburned. With the shuttle,
serious riders can make two or three runs, but even a
single run on this beautiful single-track fully justifies the
$75 registration fee. The shuttle will run every 30 to 60
minutes, from 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, and leg
muscles and grin muscles will be tested in equal measure by day’s end.
The registration fee also entitles riders to two nights
of camping at the ski area, movie night on Friday night,
and two bands on Saturday, along with a barbecue
dinner and your first beer free. Breakfast and coffee
(is there a difference?) are available for purchase on
Saturday and Sunday mornings.
For more information, visit the website at www.
ltbikefest.com.
These rides make it easy to get in some miles on the
Bitterroot’s beautiful bikeways. Invite your friends to
share in the fun, and pedal on!
Russ Lawrence is a freelance writer for the Ravalli
Republic.

Cycle up spectacular HWY 473 past Darby, along the scenic
West Fork of the Bitterroot River, past unspoiled forests,
around undiscovered Painted Rocks Lake and to the Alta
Ranger Station, the first to be built in the U.S.
The air is refreshing at 5,000 feet elevation.
Camp at Painted Rocks or the Alta campgrounds or
spoil yourself in a deluxe cabin at the Alta Ranch.

Original Art, Jewelry, Soaps, Items
made from Upcycled Local Recources,
Candy, Antler& Barbed Wire Art,
...and so much more

Local hand crafted
Montana Made products

A Whimsical Place to Shop

Page 18 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

175 S. 2nd St
Downtown Hamilton
363-9708

A Gallery of
Unique Gifts

1

2

3

Map provided by the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce

Mon-Sat. 6am-10pm • Sun 8am-9pm
Home of the 99¢ Fountain Drink

V ictor S inclair

2381 Hwy 93 Victor, MT • (406)-642-9092

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 19

Page 20 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

Popular road rides

for Bitterroot Valley cyclists
By TONY NEAVES

and

ANNIE CREIGHTON

Ride 1 :: West Side Loop
✔ Intermediate
(Caution: not recommend for children.)
✔ Directions for start and end in Hamilton
✔ 12 miles
This loop is very popular due to its proximity to
Hamilton and for its quick, easy route. Good for
introducing riders to what the Bitterroot Valley has
to offer.
• Park in Hamilton.
• Take Main Street west across the
bridge and up the hill.
• Turn left onto Westside Road.
• Travel to Roaring Lion Road, turn left.
• Travel to Hwy 93.
Use extreme caution on this section as
you will be entering Hwy with high
speed traffic.
Be very careful crossing the bridge just
south of Angler’s Roost. Ride on the
correct side of the road (right side) with
traffic, single file.
• Be even more careful after the bridge
where the Hwy 93 Path begins on the
west side of the Highway. Cross over
only where there is no traffic in either
lane. Once on the Hwy 93 Path, you are
safe.
• Follow the Hwy 93 Path back to
Hamilton.
• Turn left on Nichol Lane before
Murdoch’s.
• Turn left onto South 2nd Street and
travel north back to your car.
Ride 2 :: Sleeping Child Out and Back
✔ Beginner -Intermediate
✔ 15 miles (one way)
✔ Start at the “Y” dirt parking area located at
Hwy 93 and Skalkaho Highway. (One mile south
of Hamilton on the west side of the Hwy.)
This route takes you through a beautiful, rural
area with a gentle incline at first. You will then enter

the canyon section where it will begin to climb
steeper along Sleeping Child Creek over the last
five miles. Absolutely beautiful! Nice option as you
can ride as far as you have time for.
• Turn right out of parking area onto
Sleeping Child Road.
• Turn right onto Sleeping Child Road.
• Follow Sleeping Child Road to the end
at Private Property.
• Return the same way back to your car.

Ride 3 :: Skalkaho Highway Out and Back
✔ Intermediate
✔ 15 miles to Forest Service gate
(Closed until Memorial Day.); ~18
miles to end of pavement
✔ Directions for start and end in
Hamilton.
✔ Start at the “Y” dirt parking area
located at Hwy 93 and Skalkaho
Highway. (One mile south of
Hamilton on the west side of the
Hwy.)
Another nice out and back that you can start
from the same parking area as Ride 2. The last four
miles of pavement climb steep and the canyon narrows. You ride right alongside Daly Creek here and
the road is twisty. Beautiful.
Be very careful as there is traffic along this route
so continue to abide by the rules of the road and
stay far right and ride single file. There are many
blind corners along this section of the route.
• Turn right out of the parking area onto
Skalkaho Highway and stay on this
route until the pavement ends. As you
ride further along this route, the traffic
drops way off as you pass the last
houses and enter the National Forest.
Ride 4 :: Victor Loop
✔ Intermediate-Advanced
✔ 27 miles
✔ These directions start and end in
Hamilton.

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 21

Perry Backus

This route utilizes a series of back roads between
Hamilton and Victor to the west of Hwy 93 and
returns along the Hwy 93 Path.
• Park in Hamilton.
• Follow Main Street west to Ricketts
Road.
• Turn right on Ricketts.
• Turn left onto Bowman Road. Follow
Bowman as it weaves left and right
along the hilly rural 2-lane and
ultimately through the Town of
Pinesdale.
• After a good descent, turn right onto
Sheafman Creek Road. Descend all the
way as the road bends left. Stay on it
until you reach Bourne Lane.
• Turn left onto Bourne Lane and follow it
west until turning right onto Red Crow
Road. Stay on Red Crow as it weaves its
way north and turns into Pleasant View
Drive. Ride along Pleasant View and
drop down a steep hill with a sharp left
hand corner.
• Turn right onto 5th Street. Follow 5th
east into Victor.
• Enter the Hwy93 Path on South end of
town near the grocery store and return
to Hamlton.

Ride 5 :: Stevi Figure 8
✔ Intermediate-Advanced
✔ 55 miles
✔ These directions start and end in
Hamilton.
This route does a huge figure eight loop through
the Valley on the west and east benchlands, linking
Hamilton and Stevensville. The route is difficult at
the beginning with ups and downs but the return is
easy along the Hwy93 Path.
• Park in Hamilton
• Ride up West Main Street to Ricketts
Road.
• Turn right on Ricketts Road and travel to
Bowman.
• Turn right on Bowman and travel to
Orchard Drive.
• Turn left onto Orchard and travel to
Dutch Hill Road.
• Turn left onto Dutch Hill and travel to
Lower Mill Creek Road.
• Turn right onto Lower Mill Creek and
travel to Sheafman Creek Road.
• Turn right onto Sheafman Creek and
travel to Bourne Lane.
• Turn left onto Bourne and travel to Red
Crow Road.

Page 22 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

• Turn right onto Red Crow and follow all
the way to Pleasant View Drive.
• After dropping down a steep hill with
a sharp left hand corner, turn right
onto 5th Street and follow it to Victor’s
Main Street.
• Enter Hwy93 Path going north (left) from
Main.
• Turn right at Bell Crossing Road.
• Cross the Eastside Hwy and onto
Willoughby Road.
• Turn left onto South Sunset Bench Road
and climb up onto this beautiful bench
to the southeast of Stevensville.
• Turn left onto Pine Hollow Road and fol
low it across the bench.
• After a wonderful flowing descent, turn
right onto Logan Lane.
• Turn left onto Middle Burnt Fork Road.
• Turn right onto Park Street and travel
along it as it turns into East 3rd Street
and bends to the left and travels into
downtown Stevensville.
• Enter the Path on the north end of
town at the intersection of Main Street
and Eastside Hwy.
• Follow the Path west to Hwy 93 and
enter the Hwy93 Path.
• Follow the Hwy93 Path south to Victor.
• At Victor you have options! If you are
tired, follow the Hwy93 Path to
Hamilton. If you want more climbing,
retrace the first section of the rider on
the west side roads back to Hamilton.

Ride 6 :: Corvallis Loop
✔ Beginner-Intermediate
✔ 13.5 miles
✔ These directions start and end in
Corvallis.
This route is a nice introduction to the network
of back roads along the scenic bench lands west
and north of Corvallis. Although this is a short ride,
there are a number of hills to climb and descend! It
is fund and scenic.
• Park in Corvallis.
• Go east from 4-way stop at the
intersection of the Eastside Highway
and Woodside Cutoff Road. Woodside
turns into Willow Creek Road east of the
Highway.
• Turn right onto Honey House Lane.
• Turn right onto Warbler Lane.
• Turn left onto Bass Lane.
• Turn left onto Willow Creek Cross Lane.
• Turn left at the “T” onto Willow Creek
Cross Road.
• Turn right onto Willow Creek Road
• Turn left onto Summerdale Road.
• After a short steep descent, turn left
onto Popham Lane.
• Turn left onto the Eastside Hwy and
return to Corvallis.
• Option at Eastside Highway: If you have
a hybrid or cross-bike, you can cross
Eastside Hwy onto the dirt road.
At the “T”

Russ Lawrence

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 23

Ride 7 :: Hamilton-Corvallis Loop
✔ Beginner-Intermediate
✔ 15 miles
✔ These directions start in Hamilton but just
turn them around and your start will be in
Corvallis.
This route is a fun way to see a little of the west
side and east side roads available to ride between
Hamilton and Corvallis. This route is hilly until you
reach Bourne Lane then becomes easy on flat
roads into Corvallis and on the return to Hamilton.
There are many options for starting and ending this
ride either in Hamilton or Corvallis.
• Park in Hamilton.
• Begin by riding west on Main Street to
Ricketts Road.
• Turn right on Ricketts.
• Turn left onto Bowman Road. Follow
Bowman as it weaves its way through
the Town of Pinesdale.
• After a good descent, turn right onto
Sheafman Creek Road. Descend all the
way as the road bends left. Stay on it
until you reach Bourne Lane.
• Turn right on Bourne Lane and go down
a very steep hill.

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Just before you reach Hwy93, turn right
onto Meridian Road.
Travel Meridian until you take a left turn
onto the Hwy93 Path to Woodside Cutoff.
Carefully cross Dutch Hill Road to get
into the eastbound lane to cross East
toward Corvallis
>>> OR hit the crossing button, dis
mount bike, and walk across Hwy93.
Enter the Path which parallels Woodside
Cutoff Road into Corvallis.
Check out Corvallis, then return west on Path.
Turn left onto Old Corvallis Road and
follow all the way back to Hamilton.
Turn right onto Fairgrounds Road.
Cross Hwy93 at the traffic signal.
Turn left onto North 4th Street and
return to downtown Hamilton.

The mission of the nonprofit Adventure Cycling
Association, headquartered in a former Church of
Christian Science building on East Pine Street in
Missoula, is to inspire and empower people to travel

Russ Lawrence

by bicycle. With approximately three dozen full-time
employees, Adventure Cycling serves a worldwide
membership of nearly 47,000 members, making it
North Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier bicycle-travel organization.

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 25

Adventure Cycling’s roots date back to the mid1970s, when two couples who had moved to Missoula
from Columbus, Ohio, set out on an Alaska-to-South
America ride they called Hemistour. One of the couples, Dan and Lys Burden, had to leave the ride near
the Mexico/Guatemala border after Dan contracted
hepatitis; the other couple, Greg and June Siple,
continued pedaling all the way to the southern tip of
Argentina. Before splitting up, however, the group
conceived the notion of a creating a bicycle touring
event across the United States to celebrate the 1976
American Bicentennial. Hence, Bikecentennial was
born.
As the Siples continued riding southward, the
Burdens returned to Missoula to start planning for the
big ride. By the autumn of 1975, more than a dozen
full-time employees had been recruited to map a route
across the country, set up “bike inns” approximately
every 60 miles along the route (where many riders
would overnight), create maps and guidebooks, and
perform many other tasks, both grand and mundane.
The event proved a resounding success. By the end
of the summer of 1976, more than 4,000 riders from
throughout the U.S. and beyond had ridden all or parts
of the 4,500-mile TransAmerica Trail.
Little did the founders know that after the big summer of cycling was over, the organization would carry
on, for they had envisioned the Bikecentennial event
simply as a huge, one-time happening. But America’s
growing legion of bicycle enthusiasts wouldn’t let the
idea go away. Hundreds more, inspired by articles
in the press and tales brought home by those who
rode in ’76, wanted their own shot at pedaling across
America.
Originally housed upstairs in a rickety building on
North Higgins, Bikecentennial moved to a ground-level
Main Street office in the early 1980s. By a decade later,
in 1992, the organization had accrued the means to
purchase the old church on East Pine Street that it still
occupies (though it was recently renovated and added
on to). In 1993, Bikecentennial changed its name to
Adventure Cycling Association and has been growing
in membership and impact ever since.
Because of where the organization is located,
Missoula and western Montana have evolved into a
bicycling crossroads and a place of pilgrimage for
hundreds of cyclists from throughout the world. Today,
nearing its 40th anniversary, the organization does so

much more than “just” run cross-country tours that it
is challenging to know where to begin describing its
many services. Probably the best way is to go program
by program.
Routes and Maps. Currently employing five
cartographers and GIS specialists, the Routes and
Mapping Department recently surpassed the 42,000
mile mark of mapped roads and trails making up the
Adventure Cycling Route Network. These include three
east-west cross-country routes, including the original
TransAmerica Trail (which passes through the Bitterroot
Valley, as does the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail); routes
tracing both the East Coast and the West Coast; an
off-pavement mountain-bike route paralleling the
Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico; and many
others. The newest, launched in February 2014, is the
Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route, a glorious
loop of 518 miles circling through the heart of central
Idaho. On the drawing board and scheduled for completion in 2015: Bicycle Route 66, tracing the historic
“Mother Road” from Chicago to Southern California.
Guided Tours. In 2014, the Adventure Cycling Tours
Department offers more than 60 different tours in the
U.S. and Canada (and more than 80 dates), ranging in
duration from three days to three months. The level of
support varies a great deal as well, from tours that are
totally self-contained—on which riders carry all their
bicycle and camping gear and cook their own meals—
to fully van-supported and catered. There are even
relatively easy “Family Fun” offerings, designed to help
nurture the next generation of bicycle travelers.
Publications. Adventure Cyclist magazine, published and sent to members nine times a year, is the
nation’s undisputed leading publication about bicycle
travel and adventure. The magazine features firsthand
accounts and stunning photographs of tours both
domestic and foreign, from weekend outings to adventures of epic proportions. Gear reviews and more are
also included in the magazine, regarded by most members as the most rewarding and inspirational reason for
joining Adventure Cycling.
Memberships. Donations made and annual dues
paid by Adventure Cycling members (along with onetime fees paid by life members), are key to fulfilling the

Page 26 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

organization’s mission. Funds raised go to expanding
the Adventure Cycling Route Network, maintaining the
organization’s online resources (which include a very
active blog), pursuing educational and outreach efforts,
and creating an official U.S. Bicycle Route System.
Travel Initiatives. This relatively new department
works to forge partnerships beyond the Adventure
Cycling membership. It has a number of stated goals—
most notably, that of building the U.S. Bicycle Route
System. Though this system will share some routes,
or route sections, with the Adventure Cycling Route
Network, it has the distinct goal of linking urban, suburban, and rural areas with designated, signed facilities,
including both roadways and separated pathways. To
build the system, Adventure Cycling is working handin-hand with AASHTO, the American Association of
Highway and Transportation Officials (and “the voice
of transportation” in America). To date, nearly 6,000
miles of U.S. Bicycle Routes have been established in
twelve states, which include Alaska, Kentucky, Illinois,
Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New
Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Sales. Through the online and hard-copy
Cyclosource catalog, Adventure Cycling offers the
best bicycling maps available, along with a carefully
chosen inventory of gear and accessories aimed at the
traveling bicyclist, such as bags, racks, and clothing.
Proceeds go to further the organization’s mission of
inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle.
Visit www.adventurecycling.org to learn more about
the largest nonprofit membership bicycling organization in North America. Or, better yet—since Adventure
Cycling is a short drive or bike ride away from the
Bitterroot—swing by their office at 150 East Pine in
Missoula and meet some of the smiling staff members.
Their enthusiasm for bicycle travel is contagious!
Michael McCoy is a media specialist with Adventure
Cycling Association in Missoula.

Espresso • Locally Made Pastries
FREE Wif-Fi • Friendly & Knowledgeable Staff
Don’t just take our word for it - Read
the rave reviews other travelers have
written about us on Tripadvisor & Yelp!

laundry for Free* Private baths
Free internet Walk to brew & food

*offer good for anyone who rides their cycles to our door.

Stevensville Hotel • 107 E 3rd,
406-777-3087 • stevensvillehotel.com

301 W. Main in the heart of downtown Hamilton
406.375.7508 • www.BigCreekCoffee.com

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 27

Cycling means

income for valley businesses
By RUSS LAWRENCE

Pedaling through the Bitterroot Valley doesn’t just
put a smile on the faces of cyclists, it leaves many local
businesses smiling as well. Biking can be big business,
and not just for the obvious reasons.
The potential market is substantial. More than a
quarter of all Americans ride a bike -- more than golf,
ski, or play tennis, combined.
Local cyclists support valley bicycle shops, but
they’re just one segment of a much larger market. That
market includes touring cyclists pedaling through, and
cyclists who come to the valley as a destination, to ride
local roads and trails.
The Adventure Cycling Association has more than
46,000 members worldwide, and the Bitterroot is just
an easy day’s pedal from their Missoula headquarters,
considered Mecca for touring cyclists. The ACA has
designated thousands of miles of bike trails that crisscross the U.S., several of which pass through Ravalli
County.
The Trans-America is the grand-daddy of them all,
providing a cyclist-friendly touring route that crosses
the country. The ACA doesn’t keep track of how many
cyclists ride it each year, but based on map sales and
visits to their Missoula office, they estimate the number
at between 1,000 – 1,500 individual cyclists annually.
Those are the touring bikes you see on valley roads

and bike paths, laden with panniers, many of them carrying all their needs with them on the bike, including
camping and cooking gear. Even though they’re “selfcontained,” they still need groceries and other dayto-day supplies. Others, however, may be “credit-card
tourists,” carrying only daily essentials, and sleeping
most nights in local lodgings, eating in local restaurants.
Some cyclists travel here specifically to ride, and may
stay in a hotel or bed & breakfast, spending several
days to ride the local routes, or to head up into the
mountains for a day of single-track riding, returning for
a massage and a local brew.
In fact, data from the State of Montana suggests
that cycle tourists spend an average of $75 per day in
Montana, many of them spend eight or more nights in
the state, and 41% stay in a hotel or B&B. The majority,
56%, have a household income between $75-150,000.
The state of Oregon recently estimated the economic impact of cycle tourism at $326 million, and a
Wisconsin study recently pegged the impact at $924
million in that state – more than hunting.
Of course, local bike shops are happy to see cycle
tourists, but data shows that spending by cyclists
directly benefits many local businesses. Coffee shops
and breweries are frequently singled-out, but even
laundromats prove a necessity for riders. Cyclists are
frequently seen taking a break on valley Main Streets,

Page 28 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

shopping for souvenirs that they’ll have shipped home,
to avoid having to carry them along.
It’s not unknown for those cycling “souvenirs” to
include homes or property in the Bitterroot, as cyclists
passing through become smitten by the valley’s offerings.
The ACA’s Ginny Sullivan told a group working to
promote the Bitterroot as a cycling destination, that
people “spend more on their passion than on their
obligations,” and Ravalli County is well-positioned to
capitalize on that.
Word spreads quickly among cyclists about bikefriendly towns, those with camping or lodging convenient to shopping and other amenities, and even about
specific shops that welcome cyclists.
The town of Twin Bridges took advantage of that
in 2009, building a cyclist-specific campground within
easy walking to town, offering a simple shelter with
shower facilities, a sink for washing clothes or preparing meals, picnic tables, and a grill. They charge no fee,
but ask for donations. In all, the city spent just $9,000
on the facility, and estimates that the entire amount
was recouped in the first season, not just in donations
but also in increased business in town.

Ending up in downtown
Hamilton--isn’t that the
whole point of a ride?
Downtown --

An Oregon study showed that the impact of bike
tourists who stay overnight is 19 times the impact of a
cyclist who just passes through.
Adventure Cycling’s Winona Bateman said last year
that “bike tourism is big business, especially for smaller
communities. The old tenet ‘if you build it, they will
come,’ is definitely true with bicycle tourists.”
The valley is also frequently part of the itinerary for
organized tours. Last year saw at least three major
tours pass through, with more than 500 riders in all,
but routes shift from year to year, and this summer it
appears The Cycling House has the only organized
tours, shepherding 30 riders from Missoula to Sula on
July 15, with another group visiting on July 25.
Cycling has an economic benefit for local non-profits, too, as numerous valley organizations have organized rides or triathlons as benefits. The list includes
the Bitter Root Land Trust, Bitterroot CASA, the Darby
Booster Club, Lost Trail Ski Patrol, the Lake Como
Trails Club, Emma’s House, Trapper Creek Student
Government, and others.
Those spokes radiating from a cyclists hub reach out
to touch many local businesses, directly and indirectly.
Will yours be one of them?

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 29

Bitter Root Brewing
invites cyclists to Hamilton

Michelle McConnaha

By MICHELLE MCCONNAHA

Inviting cyclists and encouraging them to make
Hamilton a stop along their ride will benefit both the
riders and the community, said a business owner who
promotes cycling in the Bitterroot.
“We are spreading the word for mountain biking
and road biking,” said Nicole Musburger, a partner at
Bitterroot Brewing/Brew Pub. “Our goal has always
been to create a community space where people stop
and hang out and meet each other and shop around
town. I think as long we encourage cyclists to stop here
it will impact our community financially.”
Musburger said she feels that Hamilton is a great
place for cyclists to stop and spend time and money.
“Our community has so many things to offer,” she
said. “I think more people are starting to recognize this.
It’s a great place to stop and it’s becoming a spot on
cyclists’ radar. It’s an awesome location - the Bitterroot
Valley is along the Trans America Trail and the

Lewis and Clark Trail.”
Increased interest in cycling will bring more cyclists
through Hamilton and the Bitterroot Valley.
“There’s a push in the community right now that
people are really interested in being as accommodating as possible to cyclists,” Musburger said. “There are
committees to figure out how the Hamilton community
can be more friendly and it’s really cool to see and be a
part of.”
Musburger said the brew pub has experienced
increased business.
“We’ve been here for – it will be 16 years in October
- and we’ve always had cyclists come through here,”
she said. “There is a draw between cyclists and breweries. Some rides are scheduled for riders to bike from
brewery to brewery. Breweries tend to be communityoriented places: low-key, laid-back and family friendly.
I think it has a community feel. It’s a place to get

Page 30 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

together and feel like you’re a part of what ever community you are cycling through.”
Often, riders plan to stop at the Bitterroot Brewery
as part of their route.
“It is sometimes a midway stop for cyclists,” said
Musburger. “We have great beer and food and live
music two nights a week. The Bitterroot Brewery is an
awesome way to cap off an awesome bike ride.”
Musburger encourages cycling in the Bitterroot
because of friendships and positive opportunities.
“I’m not a cyclist, but a lot of my staff and close
friends are, and I know a ton of people who love it and
are avid cyclists. I want to support them,” she said.
One way the Bitterroot Brewery is supporting
cycling is by sponsoring a women’s cycling event this
year called Femme/Velo Deux.
“It is all-women’s ride which we’re excited about
being involved in. We are hosting their after-party here.
It’s really cool – the finest in women’s cycling.”
Musburger said the community is talking about creating more of a “landing spot” for bikes in Hamilton
- for larger bike tours - someplace that offers showers
and toilets and a place for people to camp that is right
in town – “that would be huge.”

Bitterroot Brewing is a family owned and operated
business. Tim Bozik is Musburger’s father and “the
brains behind the operation,” she said.
“We just finished an expansion in September to
include cans in our lineup, which is accessible to
people who are going on a bike ride or going into
the mountains. That was the catalyst - that Montana
lifestyle that people love here - throw some cans in
your pack and off you go. It’s a big expansion – a huge
thing for us,” she said.
Bitterroot Brewing is located at 101 Marcus St.,
Hamilton. Call them at (406) 363-7468, or visit their
website www.bitterrootbrewing.com .

REMLC’S
CITY CENTER
MOTEL & ANNEX
A Bike Tour fundraiser
for Bitterroot CASA
begins in Hamilton and
proceeds to the beautiful
Lost Horse and Lake
Como areas then back
to Hamilton

June 21, 2014 11 a.m.

Food – Fun – Music

Register to ride at spokesandsudsforcasa.com
All Proceeds Stay in Ravalli County
to Help Local Children

May is National Bicycle Month and May 12-16 is
Bike to Work Week, and more people are dusting off
bicycles and not only riding to work, but also to school,
the coffee shop, pub, grocery store, and many other
destinations. Some people, however, haven’t been
able to overcome physical and psychological barriers
to moving to the bicycle as a healthy and efficient alternative mode of transportation. To help get started -- or
get better -- at bicycle commuting, here are a few suggestions that might make the difference for you.
Learning to like it. One of the -- if not the -- biggest
barriers to more people taking up bicycle commuting
is learning to enjoy it instead of feeling obligated to do
it to save money on gas and parking, get it shape,

lose weight or reduce dependence on imported oil.
It might take a few months to achieve a basic fitness
level, adjust your daily routine and learn to feel comfortable becoming part of the normal traffic flow, so
don’t hang it up after a few days. Give it enough time,
and you’ll start liking it.
Drive your bicycle. Bicycles are legally classified as
vehicles, so in general, pretend you’re driving instead
of riding your bicycle. With some exceptions, operate
your non-motorized vehicle the same way you operate your motorized vehicle. For example, never ever
“drive” on the wrong side of the road against traffic.
Try to blend in with traffic instead of trying to separate
yourself from it. Just as you do in your vehicle, drive

Page 32 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

defensively.
Hold your line. Probably the best habit a bicycle
commuter can have is being predictable by riding in a
straight line and avoiding sudden moves.
Be bright. Always wear a helmet, bicycle gloves and
protective eyeglasses, and don’t be fashion conscious.
Instead, wear high-visibility or reflective clothing. When
riding at night or in low-light conditions, always use
a flashing backlight and handlebar or headband LED
front light.
Where to ride. If you can’t use a street with a designated bicycle lane or wide shoulder free of parked
cars and debris, ride one or two feet into the traffic
lane (about where a car’s passenger tires normally go).
If you’re on a residential street with on-street parking,
hold your line in the traffic lane. Don’t weave in and out
of the open spaces between parked cars.
Don’t be afraid of thru streets. People prefer to
drive on thru-streets because they provide the fastest,
shortest, safest routes to their destinations. Don’t shy
away from “driving” thru streets for the same reasons.
Signaling. Always signal turns or lane changes -- and
do it aggressively -- as long as it’s safe to take one hand
off the handlebars. Both cyclists and motorists need to
understand that in some cases, such as when making
a high-speed turn, cyclists must keep both hands on
the handlebars and brakes and can’t continue to safely
signal.
Watch those doors. When riding along parked
cars, ride far enough away from the car to keep from
being “doored” -- i.e. a motorist opening the door
without looking to see a cyclist approaching from
behind, which is illegal, but, sadly, happens frequently,
so drive defensively
Beware of the right hook. Watch carefully when
vehicle comes up beside you as you approach an intersection. Although illegal, some drivers underestimate
a bicyclist’s speed and refuse to wait a few seconds
for them to pass before making a right turn. If the
vehicle is beside you, you might not be able to see the
vehicle’s turn signals. A vehicle turning and cutting off
or crashing a bicyclist -- called “the right hook” -- is a
common bicycle/motor vehicle accident. Again, be a
defensive driver.
Making a left turn. On a two-lane street, signal
aggressively and move toward the center of the road,
staying in your lane, a half-block or more before turning left. Don’t signal and stay on the right shoulder and
then veer abruptly across traffic to make a left turn.
When turning left on a multiple-lane road, aggressively
signal and then carefully move into the left-turn lane
just as you would do with your motor vehicle, and do

this far enough in advance of the intersection, so you
aren’t making an abrupt move across traffic. If there is
a left-hand turn lane, use it, just as you would with your
motor vehicle.
Intersection savvy. When coming up to an intersection with a stop sign or stoplight, take control. If you’re
the first vehicle there, take the entire traffic lane when
you stop. Don’t stop far to the right and leave room
for a car to park beside you. If the road splits off into a
right-hand turn lane and you plan to go straight, again,
take the traffic lane instead of stopping in the turn lane,
which makes the motorist behind think you’re turning
right. If other vehicles are already stopped at the intersection, take your place in line behind the last vehicle
instead of trying to squeeze through on the right along
the curb, which is not only illegal and dangerous but
also and discourteous to motorists. Stay in the driving lane until you’ve cleared the intersection and then
move to the right to allow motorists to pass.
Don’t cut corners. You avoid doing this with your
motor vehicle; do the same on your bicycle.
Bulb-outs. Many cities have installed bulb-outs,
especially around schools, and they can be dangerous for bicyclists, especially when approached at high
speed on a downhill grade. When approaching a
bulb-out on your bicycle, aggressively signal and then
carefully move into the traffic lane far in advance, even
if you have to briefly inconvenience motorists, and
then back onto the shoulder after the bulb-out. Do not
swerve suddenly into traffic just before the bulb-out.
Sidewalks. Even though it’s legal to ride on sidewalks in most places, this can be dangerous, so avoid it
if possible.
Storm grates. Be alert for parallel storm grates
and move far enough into the traffic lane to safely
miss them--and do this gradually, after signaling, far in
advance of the grate. Don’t veer into traffic at the last
second to miss a storm grate--or any other hazard, for
that matter, such as a pothole.
Watch the sun. Be extra defensive at sunrise and
sundown when a motorist coming from behind might
be partly blinded by direct sunlight.
If you’re among those who are considering taking
up bicycle commuting, these practical tips should help
you do it more safely, efficiently and enjoyably.
Bike Walk Montana is a statewide nonprofit advocate for bicyclists and pedestrians. Learn more about
us at www.bikewalkmontana.org.

Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014 - Page 33

Cycling laws
in Montana
The bicycle is a legal vehicle in Montana, which
means cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities
as motorists. Find out more about Montana’s cycling
laws and find additional contact information at the
Department of Transportation’s cycling resource page.
View Montana bicycle map with shoulder widths, rumble
strip indicator, grades and average daily traffic.
61-8-602. Traffic laws applicable to persons operating bicycles. Every person operating a bicycle shall
be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of
the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle
by chapter 7, this chapter, and chapter 9 except as to
special regulations in this part and except as to those
provisions of chapter 7, this chapter, and chapter 9 which
by their very nature can have no application.
61-8-605. Riding on roadways. (1) As used in this
section:
(a) “laned roadway” means a roadway that is
divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic; and
(b) “roadway” means that portion of a highway
improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular
travel, including the paved shoulder.
(2) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway
at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and
place and under the conditions then existing shall ride
as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable
except when:
(a) overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;

(b) preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into
a private road or driveway; or
(c) necessary to avoid a condition that makes it
unsafe to continue along the right side of the roadway,
including but not limited to a fixed or moving object,
parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, surface
hazard, or a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and
another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the
lane.
(3) A person operating a bicycle upon a one-way
highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride
as close to the left side of the roadway as practicable.
(4) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall
ride in single file except when:
(a) riding on paths or parts of roadways set aside
for the exclusive use of bicycles;
(b) overtaking and passing another bicycle;
(c) riding on a paved shoulder or in a parking lane,
in which case the persons may ride two abreast; or
(d) riding within a single lane on a laned roadway
with at least two lanes in each direction, in which case
the persons may ride two abreast if they do not impede
the normal and reasonable movement of traffic more
than they would otherwise impede traffic by riding single
file and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(5) A bicycle, as defined in 61-8-102(2)(b)(ii), is
excluded from the provisions of subsections (2) and (3).
61-8-607. Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. (1) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be
equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a

Page 34 - Cycling the Bitterroot, April 2014

white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to
the front. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to
rear-facing reflectors required by this section.
(2) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall
be equipped with an essentially colorless front-facing
reflector, essentially colorless or amber pedal reflectors,
and a red rear-facing reflector. Pedal reflectors shall be
mounted on the front and back of each pedal.
(3) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be
equipped with either tires with retroflective sidewalls
or reflectors mounted on the spokes of each wheel.
Spoke mounted reflectors shall be within 76 millimeters
(3 inches) of the inside of the rim and shall be visible on
each side of the wheel. The reflectors on the front wheel
shall be essentially colorless or amber and the reflectors
on the rear wheel shall be amber or red.
(4) Reflectors required by this section shall be of a
type approved by the department.
(5) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake
which will enable the operator to make the braked
wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(6) Every bicycle is encouraged to be equipped

InterpretIve
Center

with a flag clearly visible from the rear and suspended
not less than 6 feet above the roadway when the bicycle
is standing upright. The flag shall be fluorescent orange
in color.
61-8-608. Bicycles on sidewalks. (1) A person operating a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk or across a
roadway upon and along a crosswalk shall yield the rightof-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal
before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
(2) A person may not ride a bicycle upon and along
a sidewalk or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk where the use of a bicycle is prohibited by official
traffic control devices.
(3) Except as provided in subsections (1) and (2), a
person operating a vehicle by human power upon and
along a sidewalk or across a roadway upon and along
a crosswalk has all the rights and duties applicable to a
pedestrian under the same circumstances.
Other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and
ordinances may apply.

SERVING THE BITTERROOT
VALLEY FOR 29 YEARS

Open MeMOrIal
Day thrOugh
SepteMber
Mon-Sat 9aM -5pM;
Sun 12:30-5pM,
(208) 756-1222
Interpretive trails open year-round during daylight hours

Salmon Outdoor School
June thru august
Primitive Skills Classes and Demonstrations